News

Joe Zuboff, right, beats a drum during a ceremony celebrating the return of a Chilkat robe to the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)

Robe weaves its way back home

It’s been gone for more than 100 years, but now it’s home. Tradition, love and healing filled the clan house at the Walter Soboleff Building… Continue reading

Joe Zuboff, right, beats a drum during a ceremony celebrating the return of a Chilkat robe to the Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Kevin Gullufsen | Juneau Empire)
Over 30 people from around the world participate in a Naturalization Ceremony overseen by Magistrate Judge Scott Oravec of Fairbanks at the Robert Boochever Federal Courthouse in Juneau on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New citizens pledge their allegiance

Hakan Sebcioglu was a young boy living on the coast of Turkey when his uncle, who was working in Germany, sent him a postcard. The… Continue reading

Over 30 people from around the world participate in a Naturalization Ceremony overseen by Magistrate Judge Scott Oravec of Fairbanks at the Robert Boochever Federal Courthouse in Juneau on Friday, Aug. 25, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Andy Hughes is running as a write-in candidate for the Areawide Assembly seat against incumbent Maria Gladziszewski.

Write-in candidate begins campaign to contest Areawide Assembly seat

Andy Hughes had made up his mind. Though he’d run for a seat on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly before, he wasn’t going… Continue reading

Andy Hughes is running as a write-in candidate for the Areawide Assembly seat against incumbent Maria Gladziszewski.
Alexis Ehlers (Photo courtesy JPD)

Body found in hot tub identified as missing woman

Alexis Ashley Ehlers, a Juneau woman missing since Aug. 13, has been identified as the person found dead in a covered hot tub Monday. “We… Continue reading

Alexis Ehlers (Photo courtesy JPD)
A Juneau Police Department officer stops while circling the house and peering in the windows to see who is inside, while the warrant search was under way at 423 Fourth St. on Friday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Matt Gruening)

Defendant in federal drug conspiracy case pleads not guilty

A Juneau woman pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of drug conspiracy in U.S. District Court Wednesday. Tiffany Jo Spaulding, 34, and Christian John… Continue reading

A Juneau Police Department officer stops while circling the house and peering in the windows to see who is inside, while the warrant search was under way at 423 Fourth St. on Friday afternoon. (Photo courtesy of Matt Gruening)
Bryan Schroder, the acting U.S. Attorney for Alaska, left, and Marlin Ritzman, the special agent in charge of the FBI office in Alaska, address reporters July 27, 2017, in Anchorage, after Kenneth Manzanares was charged in the death of his wife on board the Emerald Princess. The shape was sailing in U.S. waters, meaning the FBI investigated and charges are in the federal system. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Cruise ship murder suspect pleads not guilty

Kenneth Manzanares, the Utah man suspected of killing his wife aboard a cruise ship near Juneau last month, broke down sobbing during his arraignment in… Continue reading

Bryan Schroder, the acting U.S. Attorney for Alaska, left, and Marlin Ritzman, the special agent in charge of the FBI office in Alaska, address reporters July 27, 2017, in Anchorage, after Kenneth Manzanares was charged in the death of his wife on board the Emerald Princess. The shape was sailing in U.S. waters, meaning the FBI investigated and charges are in the federal system. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)
Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

New AEL&P owners have ‘no interest’ in selling

The new owner of Juneau’s electric utility has “no interest” in selling it to local owners. Hydro One, a Canadian power company, agreed in July… Continue reading

Alaska Electric Light and Power Company Lemon Creek operations center in Juneau on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Chief Operating Officer Steve Williams, left, Chief Communications Officer Carley Lawrence, center, and Executive Director John Morrison watch as Juneau Police Department Officers serve eviction notices on homeless encampments on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City creating new position to coordinate homeless resources

Juneau Empire In response to rising homelessness in town, the City and Borough of Juneau is creating a new staff position. The CBJ applied Monday… Continue reading

Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Chief Operating Officer Steve Williams, left, Chief Communications Officer Carley Lawrence, center, and Executive Director John Morrison watch as Juneau Police Department Officers serve eviction notices on homeless encampments on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Police Department Officers serve eviction notices on homeless encampments as Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority employees look on on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

City tells homeless campers to relocate within two weeks

They spoke like old friends, though one was handing the other an eviction notice. Officer Ken Colon of the Juneau Police Department gave Tapia Church… Continue reading

Juneau Police Department Officers serve eviction notices on homeless encampments as Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority employees look on on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Judge denies request to postpone murder trial

Homicide suspect Christopher D. Strawn lost a bid to postpone his new trial, currently set for Oct. 2. Strawn’s first trial, on charges of first-… Continue reading

THINKSTOCK

Senior issues highlight Chamber of Commerce luncheon

Juneau’s senior population is quickly increasing, and is about to find itself in what Sioux Douglas calls a “desperate” situation. Douglas, the president of Senior… Continue reading

THINKSTOCK
Suzanne Dutson stuffs backpacks with school supplies for children of incarcerated caregivers. (Photo courtesy Suzanne Dutson)

Juneau family pays it forward

Fifty schoolkids from around Alaska and beyond were a lot more prepared to start the school year, thanks to a pair of Juneau sisters, the… Continue reading

Suzanne Dutson stuffs backpacks with school supplies for children of incarcerated caregivers. (Photo courtesy Suzanne Dutson)
In this July 21, 2013 photo, Roland Maw takes notes during a hearing on the Magnuson Stevens federal fisheries management act in Kenai. (Archive photo)

PFD fraud trial for former Board of Fisheries nominee postponed to November

The on-again, off-again trial of a former Board of Fisheries nominee charged with Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend fraud has been postponed to the end of… Continue reading

In this July 21, 2013 photo, Roland Maw takes notes during a hearing on the Magnuson Stevens federal fisheries management act in Kenai. (Archive photo)

Join us at Heritage Thursday

Some of the leaders of the Juneau Empire will be hanging out at the downtown Heritage Coffee shop on Thursday afternoon. We’d like to meet… Continue reading

Bail lowered in punching death case

A judge substantially lowered the bail for a Juneau man accused of manslaughter and homicide. Bail had been set at $500,000 for David Valentine Evenson,… Continue reading

Trial postponed for defendant in officer-involved shooting

The trial of a Juneau man injured in an officer-involved shooting has been postponed for at least a month, in part due to a possible… Continue reading

City, university splitting former NOAA lab

City, university splitting former NOAA lab The University of Alaska Southeast and the City and Borough of Juneau Docks &Harbors are both getting what they… Continue reading

JPD investigating body found in hot tub

A Juneau man made a disturbing discovery Monday morning, finding a dead body in his covered outdoor hot tub. The man, a resident of Muir… Continue reading

The campground in Thane designated for the homeless. (Juneau Empire File)

City staff makes list of options for homeless campground

Winter is approaching, and Juneau’s increasingly large homeless population needs a place to go. At the request of the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly… Continue reading

The campground in Thane designated for the homeless. (Juneau Empire File)
In this 2015 photo, Juneau residents recite a prayer at a gathering at Evergreen Cemetery honoring the anniversary of the Princess Sophia passenger vessel’s sinking.

Walk the Evergreen Cemetery with local historian

Established in 1891, some of Juneau’s most notable figures rest in Evergreen Cemetery downtown. Marie Drake, Andrew P. Kashevaroff, John Olds and Mary Joyce are… Continue reading

In this 2015 photo, Juneau residents recite a prayer at a gathering at Evergreen Cemetery honoring the anniversary of the Princess Sophia passenger vessel’s sinking.